The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1887-07-03

chair tipped back against the railing. He wa
Jm oking, and watching. in happy oontempla
live way, the wreaths thas curled up from TIL
i2wl of his long-stemmed pipe.
Lucy, his wife, came to the door and stoot
there. with q hand on each side of the frame
york shifting idly from foot to the other
Her slim figure lent itself pliantly Go attitudes
Of careless ease that would have looked slouch
ing and awkward in most people. She had &
little iowsr-like face with small, irregular feat
1res; clear blue eyes, and hair Of light red
gold, lying upon her head in loose, short eurls
The color in her lips was deep and rich, and
there was fresh tinge of red in her cheeks, with
here and there freekle.
Colin" she said. ''you ought to have seer
Jacky chasing the little turks he tried so ard
20 catch them, and he trippsd and fell down, but
5idn's cry bill"
"Oh. he's wonderful boy. said Colip, Femov-
ing his pipe to laugh.
A little curly head was thrust between the
mothers skirts aud the door frame, and Jacky
sent up lament about the turkeys that had
liuded him,
mo, no; you can't have them," said Lucy.
''but come with mamma, and we'll put the baby
turkeys TO bed"
Collins eyes followed the slender figure of his
wife, with the two-year-old boy trotting beside
her. clutching her finger, the little feet stamping
earnestly along the garden path.
Then he looked abroad. Spring was every
where. The sky was deeply blue; the slantng
rays of the afternoon sunlight streamed through
the young bouRhs The white heads of clover
jostled each Other in the roadside fringes of
grass. Across the way the bloomy cloud of the
China blossoms hung in the clear air The turf
was thick with tiny flowers that had scent of
the earth His garden plot was fragrant and
full of color; the exquisite wisteria and the
yellow honeysuckle, with its pleasant country
Ial rIr aro6 a-nt1f fHa
On one side tall, thick hedge of Cherokee. the
wild white of the South, screened the gar
den from the passers- by upon the narrow lane
that ran beside it. The high road lay in front,
and beyond that the levee end the turbid breadth
of the Mississippi river, transformed by
cleaning afternoon lights into enchanted
stream
1t was day of hope. A thrill of joy and pain
passed through the mans heart Ii was all SO
beautiful. SO beautiful Tho voices of his wife
and child. prattling together IN the sweet Ian
guaee of baby hood, came to him where he sat.
Sometimes he caught glimpse Of Lucys bright
hair between the screen of leaves. He thought
of the dark days when his life had seemed in
tolerabie that he had come near to ending it with
his own hand
Suppose" he unused" that had done it, and
it had been made my punishment TO look out of
hell upon this
The thought made his heart tremble. He
felt that he must thank God for his deliverance.
'Colin," called Lucy. ARE you going for the
mail this EVENING"
''why yes. l had almost forgotten it."
''Well, don't forget to take my letter to Cousin
Sabiua. 1t Is the mantelpiece behind the
blue vase"
1t did not take Colin long to kiss Lucy and
Jacky. and get out on the road. 1t stretched
notonv that would have been maddening to
adventurous spirit; but to Colin it seemed the
embodiment of pacidity and sweet content.
The sun full of mild warmth, though the
wind that blew had tart touch Of chilliness in
it. just in front of him a troop of brown but
terhies frocked above the ground. with a gayety
that seemed quite inconsistent with their sober
dress. Colin slashed at the clover tops with his
stick and tossed q cheerful word to ragged
negro, who trudged beside slow ox-wagon.
Through the dusty cloud made by the broad
tired wheels he saw the figure OF woman ap-
preaching from the direction Of the village and
it not long before they met. She walked
shabby and powdered with dust She paused,
&C. IL glad of an excuse to halt
s'Can you tell me how far I am from Colin
Stones housel" she asked in a hoarse, broken
voice.
They looked at each other az she spoke, and
he saw face that had once been beautiful. but
vicious lines, the complexion coarse and mud
died.
In moment she said. "Oh, it's you'll"
His dry lips refused to answer her.
This was the wife he had believed dead for
twelve years; the woman who had ruined his
home and happiness. and, growing tired OF him.
i'll and broken. he had given her shelter-love-
less but mercifuL But nothing could reclaim
her. 1t had not been long before she wearied
anew of her tame, respectable life. and left him
again; and this time she did not return. Aftera |
year or two Of silence he had received a letter |
from the West, telling him of her death And
now she hac come back TO blast his life.
At sight of the pallor upon his face she broke |
into a discordant laugh.
How scared you iook!" she cried.
''Why have You come back. Annette?" he |
asked.
DO you think don't know all about you
that you have another wife and child2 Oh, there
49,
ion't know already Why have I come back?"
she pursued. mockinely-"why. because I'm
tired OF a rowing life. 1 want to settle down in
peace and qCetness under my own rooftree, in
he Afternoon. of my days, as the books say"
'Oh, you devilp he cried.
Come. don't call names: am your wife,
after all, and the other one isn't"
Colin did not seem TO heed her taunt-
Come in ito the field here, he said, 81 don't
want to be seen standing in the road with you"
She followed him into q waste meadow weedy
md overgrown with thistles aud coarse grasses
4 sparse thicket of scrub-oaks grew beside the
ence that had fallen into heap
II rotten rails; and the blackberry vines rioted
,ver it's decay. Here and there among the rank
,rowth were fruit trees-plum trees with their
rothy foam of blossoms, gnsrled apple trees
hat bore . scant and bitter harvest, wandering
coughs of peach bloom, and ounce branches
inged with the blush OF dawn.
"Annette," said Colin, trying to clear the husky
ound from bis voice, what good will 10 do you
@ upset my whole ifef II you will 70 quietly
way. will send you money evs-y n1oath, 90
hat You can live comfortably"
NO" abe retortsd, impudently. 1T want the \
moral support Of husband 1 want acme ons
o work for me. What's the use Of baudyiug |
yordszs -
But why did you make me believe You dsad9n
''Oh. it struck me is would be o good plsn. I
vas afraid you might find out where was-you
we're such an elevated character in those days
nd try to reclaim me-"
She made a few steps forward, but he put him
els in front of her.
Where arc you going2n he asked.
''Pm gong 20 have a look at your house and
our new wife"
Woman" said Colon, did / ever lay the
Teight OF my hand upon you, in all the years |
on made my home a hellY But now tell you |
nat il you take another step, Ill strike you
cad"
She looked at the white face out of which the
res burned black. and the tense hand clutchinc |
ne knotty stick; and shrank back, daunted, yet
alf admiring
II was only foolinR." she murmured "why